Identification device for automobiles



Nov 30, 1937. J. REN'II'LER By- Mm. 4 @W I; fl

MINI & Ifill I J g La if Z I 5 Inventor o a l 1 Nov. 30, 1937. J. RENTLER IDENTIFICATION DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Feb. 2, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 30, 1937- J. RENTLER IDENTIFICATION DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Feb. 2, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 -fi m Attorneys mobile which Patented Nov. 30, 1937 EI EENTIFICATION 2,100,598 1 DEVICE FOR, AUTOMO- BILES 'Joseph Rentler, Columbus, Ohio Application February 2, 1937, Serial No.

3 Claims. (CI. 4.0-2.2)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in identification means for automobiles, the principal object being to provide identifying means for the authorized user of an autowill be illuminated when the ignition circuit is closed and which will bear the license plate number to' the end that in the event the ignition switch is wired-around so that the engine is started, unless the ignition tag is illuminated, indication will be given to police and other interested parties that the automobile is being used by an unauthorized person.

Another important object of the invention is to provide improved driver identification means for automobiles whereby the owner and another authorized person having a key to the ignition switch can control the ignition circuit and drive the automobile only while his or her identification tag is illuminated.

Various other important objects and advantages in regard to positive acting parts and foolproofness will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary verticalsectional view taken on an irregular vertical plane.

Figure 2 is ,a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through one of the identification tag assemblies.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1. c

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the ignition switch box with the identification tag assemblies removed.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the slide plate of the lock.

. Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 2, showing the rockable plate.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed sectional view on the line 9-9 of Figure 6.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line Ill-l0 of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen in Figure 2 that numeral 5 represents the usual cowl portion of an automobile body which is usually grooved as at 6 to receive the frame portion 1 of the windshield 8. This cowl portion generally extends inwardly of the windshield 8 and is formed downwardly as at 9, its inner end to form an instrument board. The

for receiving the ignition lock mechanism gen-- erally referred to by numeral I i. The inner por tion I2 of the cowl openings for receiving the upstanding diverged tubes l3-I4 extending upwardly from the switch box l5. g Y

The front of this box cover plate It which fills instrumentpanel 9. The back wall l! of the box has a rockable rectangular-shaped plate l8 rockably secured thereto by the pivot member IS, the same having a pair of arcuate-shaped slots -26 for receiv-' ing the pins 2l-2 I projecting from the rear wall l7. Numeral 22 represents a slide plate operating against the rockable plate I8, this slide plate 22 having a pair of longitudinally extending slots 23-23 forreceiving the adjacentends of the pin 2| and also a centrally located longitudinally extending slot 24 through which the smooth shank portion of the screw 25 I5 is provided'with a the opening H1 in the through the arcuate-shaped slot 26 in the rockable plate l8 and is threaded into the back wall l? of the box l5 as at 21.

A' strip spring ;28 has its as at 28 to the top of the box I5 while its lower free end bears against the upper edge of the plate I8 for maintaining the same urged down- Wardly with itshook member 30 disposed into one or the other of the two openings 3l-32 in the upper edge of the slide plate 22. This hook member 33 does serve to retain the lock'plate 22 in a position maintaining the identifying tag assemblies generally referred to by numerals 33-34 either locked or unlocked with respect to the lock mechanism ll.

As is clearly shown in Figures 1 and '7, the plate 22 is provided with a pair of block formations 35-35 thereon each having a laterally extending 7 portion 9 is providedf with a rectangular-shaped opening. l0 therein.

is providedwith a pair of.

extends. This smooth; shank portion of the screw 25 also extends upperend anchored pin 36 slidable through the openings '31 inthe identification assemblies can be changed. However, when the hook member 3!] is engaged in the recess 32, the the openings 3'! of the tube 38,'making it impossible to remove the assemblies 33-34.

Furthermore, the slide plate 22 is provided with a pair of pin members 39-39 which engage into the eyes 4!! on the inner ends of the arms 4| pins 36 are disposed throughwhich are secured to the inner side of the cover plate I6 by screws 42. Thus the cover plate is prevented from being removed when the hook member 30 is engaged into the recess 32. Additional screws 43 are provided and are readily removable, for securing the cover plate l6 to the box proper l5.

A suitable tumbler type lock 44 of the key operated type is carried by the cover plate It, the shaft of which has a contact lug 45 for engagement with the contacts 46-41 and also a lug 48 (see Figure 8) operative in the notch 49 of the slide plate 22 for operating the said slide plate and simultaneously lifting the rcckable plate 3.

The contacts 46-41 are in the form of head members a, notched to receive the contact lug 43 and each has a shank b slidable through a post and between this post and the head a is a coiled compressible spring (1 which is adapted to be compressed when the head is engaged by the lug 4'5. Each of the posts 0 has a threaded shank disposed through the rear wall I8 and suitably insulated therefrom serving as a binding post for electrical connection.

Extending from each of the posts 0 is a con ductor wire 50 extending through the corresponding tube 38 to the lamp socket i in the pocket of the corresponding identification assemblyblock 52 from which rises the frame 53 having the pane 54 therein onto which light from the bulb 55 in the corresponding socket 5| can show.

The frame 53 is preferably of sectional construction with the sections secured permanently together by mutilated screws or the like, so that the pane cannot be removed. Obviously, when one of the units 33 or 34 must be removed, its corresponding conductor must be detached, and this can only take place after the box has been opened.

To distinguish from the owners assembly and the other assembly 34 which can be used by some other authorized person such as the owners wife, it is preferable that, for instance, the pane 54 have a dark background and light reference characters, while the pane of the assemblies 34 have a light background and dark characters. Thus, when the assembly 34 is illuminated, police or other interested parties will know that while the car is being driven byan authorized person it is not being driven by the owner.

Referring again to the assembly 33- shown in Figure 1, it can be seenthat the upper end of the tube 38 is threaded'into-the'block 52 andthat the upper portion of the tube 38 is provided with threads for accommodating the jamb nuts 53-51, one above and one below the cowl l2.

As is shown in Figure 3, the upper portion of the tube 38 is provided with a laterally disposed pin 58 which engages into the bayonet slot 59 of the corresponding tube l3 on the box IE. Thus when the pin 36 on the slide plate 22 is disengaged from the lower end of the tube 38, the jamb nuts 56--51 can be loosened andthe tube 38 worked loose from the tube l3 by disengaging the pin 58 from the bayonet slot 59. Thus the license panes 54 can be changed from time to time to agree with new issues of license tags.

It will be observed, that whenever the switch assembly is wired around to complete the ignition circuit, neither one of the bulbs 55 will be energized and a car being driven without one or the other of the panes 54 illuminated will be regarded as a car driven by an unauthorized person.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:-

1. In combination, a movable latch member, a box structure having a closure with which the latch member is engageable. to hold the closure in closed position, a license tag assembly, said assembly provided with a portion projecting into the box, said latch member being engageable with the portion of the assembly projecting" into the box to prevent detachment of the assembly from the box.

2. In combination, an ignition lock including a movable latch member, a box structure having a closure with which the latch member is engageable to hold the closure in closed position, a license tag assembly, said assembly provided with a portion projecting into the box, said latch member being engageable with the portion of the assembly projecting into the box to prevent detachment of the assembly from the box, a contact mounted in the box, illuminating means on the assembly, a conductor between the contact and the illuminating means, said rook including a swingable member engag'eable with the contact when the lock is in locked position, and a source of current connected with the said swin'gabl e member. Y

3; In combination, an ignition lock including a 1 slidable latch member, a box structure'in which the lock and latch member are located, a pair of license tag assemblies each including a tubular post, said tubular posts extending into the'b'oiilike structure, said latch member being engageable with the inner ends of the tubular members to prevent displacement of the assemblies from the box-like structure, illuminating means on the assemblies, conductors extending from the illuminating means through the tubular posts, contacts in the box-like structure to which the conductors are connected, and a rotatable member carried by the lock and engageable with one or the other of the said contacts, said rotatable member being adapted to be connected with a suitable source of current. i

JOSEPH RENTLER.

an ignition lock including 

